The 17th China New Artists and Art Works Exhibition was launched last week at Beijing's Yanhuang Art Gallery. The China Fine Arts Association is hosting the event to bring into the limelight emerging painters and sculptors from different education and professional backgrounds.

The 217 art works on display were selected from over 2,700 entries. Among them are both traditional Chinese pieces and western fine art works like sculptures and oil paintings.

Judging from the original composition and exquisite techniques, it's hard to imagine most of these works were created by non-professionals. Another salient feature of the show is the diversity of professions represented here. This is tangible in the subject matter, which reflects the artists' daily working life.

Liu Dawei, vice chairman of China Fine Arts Association, said: "I feel an overall improvement in the techniques of the art works at the show. Besides, the styles are more diversified. You can see that the artists are trying to innovate. There is something quite individual in the pieces on display."

The China New Artists and Art Works Exhibition has been held annually since 1987. Every year, thousands of art enthusiasts submit their works but only a few hundred of them actually get to meet the public. With the aim of encouraging fine art rookies, only those under the age of 50 can submit works and an artist can enter the show only once in his career.

(CCTV.com August 26, 2003)